The Meaning of Cryptozoology

by Loren Coleman

"Cryptozoology," of course, was coined by Dr. Bernard Heuvelmans in his
personal correspondence among colleagues in the 1950s, after the 1955
French publication of his book On the Track of Unknown Animals. The first
published use of the word "cryptozoology" was in 1959 when a book by Lucien
Blancou was dedicated to "Bernard Heuvelmans, master of cryptozoology."
(See the International Society of Cryptozoology's journal, Cryptozoology
#3, page 21.) Since 1982, Bernard Heuvelmans has written extensively in
the journal Cryptozoology on his current thoughts defining and redefining
"cryptozoology."

From my discussions with Richard Greenwell (ISC Sec.) and Bernard
Heuvelmans (ISC Pres), as well as with various directors on the ISC Board,
the general feeling is that an important element in the study of hidden
animals as envisioned in current cryptozoology is the input of local,
native, explorer, and traveler traditions, sightings, tales, legends and
folklore of the as-yet unverified animals. It is for this very reason that
most, but not all, of the animals under pursuit are large ones.

Therefore, not too simply, cryptozoology is the study of hidden animals
(whether large or small), to date not formally recognized by what is often
termed Western science or formal zoology but supported in some way by
testimony (in its broadest definition) from a human being.